St Helens v Leeds preview
Keiron Cunningham is hoping reinforcements will help get St Helens back on track when they host Super League champions Leeds.
Cunningham, who pledged to shake up his side following their 30-12 home defeat by Catalans Dragons, welcomes back centre Mark Percival and forwards Atelea Vea and Joe Greenwood from injury.
The Saints head coach also expects to give Jonny Lomax his first Super League appearance for more than 12 months after the full-back's recovery from a second knee reconstruction.
"Getting a few back will definitely help the cause," said Cunningham. "Once you get something that resembles your starting 13 back, you know you're going to be a lot more composed in certain situations."
The Rhinos, who are still without six front-line players including skipper Danny McGuire, are aiming to complete the double over Cunningham's men following their 30-18 win at Headingley last month.
The champions recorded their third win of the campaign with a dramatic victory over Hull FC last Friday and Cunningham admits they are showing signs of getting back to their best.
"I thought they were brilliant," he said. "They should have beaten Salford the week before - if there had been a video referee that night, things could have been different.
"In their games this year they have been fighting, battling and have been edged out by a try or so. "That Leeds spirit never dies, regardless of which players leave and which players come in, they are just finding a different way of playing without those players they have lost.
Two crucial head-to-heads in Friday's Langtree Park clash
"I think the penny sort of dropped for them a bit last Friday, I was hoping it would last another few weeks. "But I enjoy these Leeds-Saints battles. Leeds coach Brian McDermott is a good friend of mine and we always look forward to these games."
Leeds are without Ryan Hall, Tom Briscoe, Adam Cutherbertson, Stevie Ward, Josh Walters and Brett Ferres for the trip to Langtree Park. Joel Moon replaces Cameron Smith in the Rhinos' 19-man squad but he faces a late fitness test on his groin injury.
St Helens: Kyle Amor, Matty Dawson, Theo Fages, Joe Greenwood, Morgan Knowles, Jonny Lomax, Shannon McDonnell, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Jack Owens, Mark Percival, Greg Richards, James Roby, Andre Savelio, Lama Tasi, Atelea Vea, Alex Walmsley, Luke Walsh, Calvin Wellington, Jon Wilkin.
Leeds Rhinos: Carl Ablett, Mitch Achurch, Jordan Baldwinson, Rob Burrow, Brett Delaney, Beau Falloon, Keith Galloway, Mitch Garbutt, Ashton Golding, Ash Handley, Zak Hardaker, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Jimmy Keinhorst, Jordan Lilley, Joel Moon, Anthony Mullally, Brad Singleton, Liam Sutcliffe, Kallum Watkins.
